State officials sued by education unions over SB 256
The constitutionality of a new law enacted by Gov. DeSantis last week is being challenged by the Florida Education Association and three sister unions.
The complaint was filed against Senate Bill 256 on May 9 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida, Gainesville Division alleging that it violates educators’ rights to freedom of speech and association under the First Amendment and equal protection of laws under the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
“The Act imposes a variety of draconian restrictions on the Governor’s union opponents — including by compelling them to deliver a government drafted script on their union membership cards with which they fundamentally disagree — while leaving unions that supported the Governor free to conduct their affairs in accordance with ordinary labor relations principles of long-standing,” wrote Attorney Martin F. Powell in the complaint on behalf of the unions.